Burns could count on one hand the number of times Ty Grady had told him “no” in the past six or seven years. He was always ready, always willing, and always more than capable of doing whatever Burns needed. It was one reason he was so valuable. And one reason he scared the ever-loving bejeezus out of Burns.

“The real interesting thing, though, is that Zane Garrett would do the same for Ty,” Deuce concluded.

Burns raised his head and stared at the phone. “Really?” he asked in unconcealed surprise.

Deuce laughed softly. “I believe so, yes. As a unit, they are largely uncooperative, unorganized, antagonistic toward each other, stubborn when problems arise, and they conceal their weaknesses from each other and sometimes from themselves. But somehow, it works for them. They trust each other. They’re fiercely loyal to each other, as well. When there’s an outside force working against them, they pull it together in one way or another and defend one another. Viciously, if need be. Zane Garrett stood up to my father, Dick. More than once.” He paused to allow that information to sink in and then continued. “In my professional opinion, they aren’t fit to be partnered with anyone but each other,” he said wryly. “They’d drive anyone else crazy.”

Burns sagged his shoulders in relief, sitting back in his leather chair with a sigh. He hadn’t even wanted to consider the nightmare of trying to find Grady and Garrett new partners. They would’ve had to have both gone solo, and that meant undercover for Ty and a desk for Zane. Neither of which would end well.

“The only issue I can see arising in the future is… personal,” Deuce said in a careful voice.

“How do you mean?” Burns asked with a frown.

“I still can’t tell if they like each other or not,” Deuce answered with a small laugh.

Burns smiled slightly. “Well. We’ll just have to see, I suppose. Thank you, Deacon,” he murmured. “I owe you one.”

“Yes, sir, you do,” Deuce assured him. He ended the call before Burns could respond.

After a long moment’s consideration, Burns reached to press the intercom button on his desk. “Get me Ty Grady on the phone, please,” he requested of his secretary.

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“Um, sir?” she responded uncertainly. “He’s here.”

“What?” Burns asked in surprise.

“Special Agent Grady is sitting out here, waiting to see you,” she said with a hint of suspicion in her voice.

“He’s waiting?” Burns asked in disbelief. Ty had never sat out there patiently and waited to be seen. “Send him in,” he requested, alarmed. He stood as Ty was shown into the office.

“You look better than I thought you would,” he told the younger man as soon as the door was closed.

Ty gave him a game smile and moved to take a seat across from Burns. Burns slowly sat down again.

“When I started with the Bureau,” Ty said without further small talk, “you told me there were three situations where I could quit your… personal missions,” he said haltingly.

Burns nodded slowly, a hint of worry forming. “If you ever got married, had a child, or felt you were physically or mentally incapable of performing,” he listed off in slight trepidation.

Ty nodded. He looked determined, and Burns wondered how much time Ty had taken to work up the nerve to have this conversation. “Sir, I’m not getting married,” he said. “And I’m not a father. And I can honestly say that I do believe I’m still capable, physically and mentally,” he said firmly. “But I would like to request a temporary break to the assignments, nonetheless,” he said in a voice that was confident, if a little sad.

Burns could see clearly that Ty had anguished over this decision. His heart went out to the kid, and he wondered what had happened to precipitate this sort of decision. Was it what had happened on the mountain or had this been a long time in coming? Either way, Ty had lasted longer than Burns had ever expected.

He found himself nodding. “Care to share the reason?” he asked. Ty blinked at him, the only change to his expression as he sat stiffly in the seat across from Burns. Burns cocked his head sympathetically. “Would you tell me as a friend, rather than your boss?” he asked softly.

Ty lowered his head, linking his fingers together. “It’s nothing… bad,” he assured Burns finally. “There’re just some things I need to take care of—personal things—before I give any more of my time,” he explained, looking up to meet Burns’ eyes from under lowered brows.

Burns found himself nodding again, realizing that he’d grant any request Ty made right now. He looked determined, if nothing else, and Burns wondered what could have finally found a place in Ty’s life that he put ahead of his job. Burns would never have thought it possible. He hoped Ty wasn’t lying to him and that it really was something good, rather than something that had happened on that mountain.

“Thank you, sir,” Ty murmured as he stood again.

Burns stood with him, coming around the desk to walk him to the door. “Ty,” Burns said worriedly as he reached out and took Ty’s shoulder to stop him. “I heard about what happened,” he said with a deep frown.

Ty nodded, meeting Burns’ eyes apprehensively. “Dad told you?” he asked.

“He did. You did well, son,” Burns told him sincerely. “You made us both proud.” Ty merely nodded again, swallowing hard and turning away. “He told me what he said to you up there,” Burns told him unflinchingly.

Ty froze, his fingers gripping the handle of the door until his knuckles turned white. He turned slightly, his head still bowed. He looked as if he might want to say something, but Burns realized with an ache deep in his chest that Ty wasn’t capable of speaking as he tried to regain control of his emotions. Ty and Deuce were the sons he’d never had, and it pained him to see one of them struggling like this.

“You’re no coward, Beaumont, and your daddy knows that better than anyone,” Burns told him softly. Ty bowed his head and closed his eyes. Burns fought the impulse to pull him into a hug.

“Sticks and stones, sir,” Ty finally managed to respond. He raised his head again, nodding at Burns. While he looked resigned, he actually smiled before turning and leaving the office. “But words will never hurt me,” he recited in a singsong voice as he walked away.

Burns stood in the office door, watching him go with a small smile. Ty was truly a resilient man. He enjoyed life too much to let anything get him down for long.




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